South East
500 Firms Take Part In Enugu Trade Fair
More than 500 participants including six foreign countries have indicated interest to participate in the forthcoming 21st Enugu International Trade Fair taking place at the permanent site complex off Enugu – Onitsha Expressway.
The president, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) Sir Okechukwu Nwadinobi, disclosed this Thursday while briefing newsmen on the readiness of the council to hold a successful fair this year.
Maintaining that the fair will start on Friday 19th March to Sunday March 29, 2010, sir Nwadinobi revealed that the fair will be declared open by the Vice President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, adding that eminent corporate leaders and captains of industry have confirmed their acceptance of the invitation of the chamber to be physically present at the opening ceremonies.
In the same vein, Nwadinobi enumerated the countries that have already indicated their interest to participate in the fair to include Korea, India, United States of America, China , Indonesia and South Africa, adding that the theme for this year’s fair is “Economic Recovery and Development Through Public/Private Partnership.”
According to him, the fundamental principles and general objectives of Trade Fairs are simply the promotion of goods and services both at local and international levels and to boost economic and investment opportunities.
The 21st Enugu International Trade Fair, he said, would further intensify and consolidate efforts towards achieving these fundamental objectives including offering veritable platform in exposing and promoting the vast investment and business opportunities in Nigeria. On the permanent site, Mr. Nwadinobi said: “The officials of the Federal Ministry of Commerce and Industry have been quite eager to see the achievement of this landmark event and are giving us their cooperation to see that the 21st Enugu International Fair takes place at the permanent site. All necessary approvals required from them have been given to us.”
Continuing, the ECCIMA president further revealed that : “In the same vein, the governor of Enugu State , has directed all the relevant ministries to assist us in upgrading and completing the basic infrastructural needs and are already re-surfacing the access road to the complex. We assure the general public that every will be in place before the end of February this year.”
Using the forum to react on the implications of the intended closure of the Akanu Ibiam airport, Enugu, from February 10, 2010 for twelve months to allow for the expansion of the runway, Nwadinobi reasoned that “If carried out, this will further cripple the economy of the South East, as the airport remains the major gateway to the East.”
His words: “With the bad state of roads in the zone, and absence of rail transport system, our businessmen and women have no alternative as the nearest alternative airport is more than two hours away to catch a 45 minutes flight. We strongly recommend that a second runway should be constructed so that the existing runway could continue to provide air services to the teeming air travellers from the zone.”
He , therefore, made categorically clear that members of ECCIMA who are tested contractors are willing to partner with the federal government to execute the project on mutually beneficial terms. The chamber president also called on the federal and the governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime as well as other stakeholders to rise to the occasion and ensure that the proposed runway extension is carried out in a way that will not disrupt regular flight operations by exploring the alternative option suggested by the chamber.
The police in Ebonyi State say they have discovered the body of a yet to be identified middle-aged woman in a hotel room in Abakaliki, the state capital. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Loveth Odah, stated this yesterday.
She said the body has deep cuts on the chest and neck and has been deposited in a mortuary. According to the spokesman, it was discovered at Crown Garden Hotel located along the ever-busy Afikpo road in the capital city.
Mrs Odah, who said that the victim was found in the pool of her own blood, said the suspect had been identified as one Uchenna Awoke.
She said the hotel manager, Emmanuel Eze, the supervisor, and other workers had been taken to the police station for questioning and accused the hotel management of negligence.
“The manager of the hotel, the supervisor and other staff of the hotel were taken to the station for questioning and I must confess to you that the whole thing is negligence on the part of the hotel management. How can a guest be murdered in a hotel room and days after, the management is not aware of the incident.”
“We will investigate the matter properly and I assure you, the perpetrator of the act must be arrested and prosecuted. All we are asking is for the members of the public to avail the police of useful information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.”
The Senate yesterday passed the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill 2018.
The proposed commission aims at enhancing the infrastructural development of the South East zone, which is grappling with huge ecological challenges.
It also seeks to act as a catalyst for the development of the commercial potential of the zone.
The proposed legislation requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives to become a bill of the National Assembly, and the President’s assent to become a law.
Senators Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra) and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) jointly sponsored the bill read in the Senate on June 22, 2016.
Its passage in the Red Chamber followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by its former Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa), on the floor of the Senate.
The bill, after Paulker’s presentation, was considered clause by clause by the committee of the whole, and amendments made by the lawmakers were read for the third time and eventually passed.
In his remarks, presiding Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, commended his colleagues for a job well done.
In his words, “Every morning we pray that God should give us the grace to do only those things that will promote the peace and unity of this country.
“I believe that we have shown today that we are committed to the unity of this country, and it is this unity that will give us faith in this country.
“This faith will in turn help us to pursue peace and progress,” he said.
Briefing newsmen after plenary, members the South East caucus of the Senate, led by Sen. Enhinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), thanked their colleagues and members of the committee for their efforts.
Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, urged the President to sign the bill into law “as soon as we tidy it up and bring to him, in the interest of the unity and progress of Nigeria”.
“This will put to rest the long-drawn agitation in the South East, and the difficulties in the rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts that started at the end of the civil war.
“All things we see always will end up at the negotiating table, which is what we have done,” he said.
The lawmaker said he hoped the House of Representatives would give concurrence to the bill as it went in the Senate.
When established, the South East Development Commission would be the third zonal interventionist body in the country.
Bishop David Oyedepo, the Founder and Presideng Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, on Saturday predicted that nothing would disturb the peace of Nigeria and its story would change for the better in the year 2019.
Oyedepo made the declaration at the just concluded annual prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, christened the “Dominion”, in a satellite telecast of the church.
In the telecast monitored in Abuja, the cleric also declared that 2019 would be a year of “I have Dominion”.
“Nothing will tamper with the peace of Nigeria; the story will change for the better in the name of Jesus.
“Nigeria shall not see bloodshed, the Prince of Peace will continue to dominate in Nigeria, in Africa and Nigeria is declared blessed.
“Anywhere you step, accident is forbidden; death will not come near you and our nation.
“Anything that is of grace in my life, I freely release upon you today.
“God has opened the year 2019 to us, celebrate Him because its our year of “I have Dominion,” he said.
The Bishop added that the year 2019 would be a year of humbling testimonies for Nigeria and pace-setting testimonies.
He further declared that 2019 would be a colourful year for the nation.
According to the cleric, as long as Jesus has the final say on the issues of Nigeria, it will experience greatness.
Oyedepo said that there would be no more cause of alarm in any area of the nation and its citizens.
He advised Christians in Nigeria to delight themselves in the spirit of servant-hood, adding that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood.
“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood. As you keep rising on the ladder of leadership, you must retain our spirit of servant-hood, constantly working to add value to others and be kingdom minded,” he said.
According to him, dedication is at the root of dominion, saying: “Sow yourself as a seed by being totally dedicated to God and His Kingdom’’.
He told his congregation that sacrificial giving guarantees the meeting of all their needs.
“When you engage in taking care of the well-being of others, God is also committed to your well-being,” he explained. The cleric admonished Christians would engage in meeting the needs of the needy, every barrier on their path of destiny would be crushed.
“Nobody tampers with your life, your career, your family and goes away with it because you are promoted to God’s kingdom.
“God will stand for your defence in the day of trouble. Every sacrificial giver has a defence around him in the day of trouble always have that in mind,” he said.
He reminded his congregation that the Church is not a building; the Church is a people and the Redeemed of the Lord.